Shirlee Abbott

History

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible records the history of the Jewish faith and the early Church. But history isn’t its primary purpose.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness.

A chronological version of the Bible rearranges Scripture according to a timeline. It connects a prophet with the right king, fits the psalms to their time and place, puts Paul’s letters in the order he wrote them. If you haven’t read the Word chronologically at least once, give it a try. You might be surprised how much history you learn.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 2 Timothy 3:16, chronological Bible, history | Comments Off

Good Story

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible is good for me.

Psalm 19:7 (ESV)
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple.

It makes me a better person.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged God's Word, Psalm 19:7, the Bible | Comments Off

True Story

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

I believe the Bible is true.

Psalm 33:4 (NIV)
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.

There are things in the Bible I don’t understand, parts that don’t make sense to my limited mind. But I cannot imagine getting to heaven, standing at throne of grace and saying, “I knew it! The Bible isn’t true.”

I’m sure the Bible is true in countless ways I don’t yet understand. God’s never confused or mistaken.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Bible, God's Word, Psalm 33:4, Truth | 2 Comments

Know Truth

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Jesus said,

John 8:32 (NIV)
Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.

It’s hard to find truth buried amongst all the personal opinions, clickbait and fake news. Maybe that’s why I feel dragged down and tripped up.

I’m thankful for God’s Word — truth we can rely on.

Psalm 19:7-8
The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.

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Know the Word

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m getting older. Memorization is harder work than it used to be. I fell out of the habit of memorizing Scripture.

This familiar verse popped up in my Bible reading:

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

God had a little chat with me about it.

Do you still sin?

Lord, You know that I do.

Then why stop memorizing my word?

Why indeed?

Teach me your Word, O Lord. I want to know it by heart.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged memorizing Scripture, Psalm 119:11 | 2 Comments

Know Myself, Know My God

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

“Lord Jesus,
let me know myself
and know Thee,
and desire nothing
save only Thee.”
St. Augustine (354-430)

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged know, St. Augustine | Comments Off

Know God

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Jesus prayed that we would know God.

John 17:1-3 (ESV)
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God.”

Know God, know eternal life.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged eternal life, John 17:1-3, know God | Comments Off

God Knows

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

God knows me better than I know myself.

Psalm 139:3-4 (MSG)
Even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.

God knows me at my worst, and He still loves me.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged know, Psalm 139:3-4 | Comments Off

Honest Confession

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

400-year-old wisdom from
John Donne (1571-1631) . . .
timeless, indeed.

“O Lord, forgive me my sins,
the sins of my youth, and my present sins,
the sin that my parents cast upon me,
original sin,
and the sins that I cast upon my children,
in an ill example;
actual sins, sins which are manifest to all the world,
and sins which I have so labored to hide from the world,
as that now they are hid from mine own conscience,
and mine own memory.
Forgive me, O Lord.”

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged confession, John Donne | Comments Off

Instant Honesty

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

“Confess sin instantly.”
F. B. Meyer (1847-1929)

Confession is for my sake, not God’s (He already knows what I did).
Sooner or later, I’ll be honest with myself — and God. So why wait?

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged confession, F. B. Meyer | Comments Off